Latest news and updates
7 stowaways found in lorry bound for Crawley
13 January 2012
7 stowaways were prevented from illegally entering the UK after they were caught hiding inside a lorry carrying an aircraft simulator heading for Crawley in Sussex.
The men were discovered last month in Calais, France, by UK Border Agency officers as they checked vehicles bound for Dover.
Officers were alerted to the presence of the migrants on 21 December by Benji, a highly skilled spaniel sniffer dog trained to detect potential stowaways.
Opening up the lorry trailer, the officers discovered the men, 3 Afghans, 3 Iraqis and 1 Turk, hiding inside the main part of the simulator. They were removed and handed over to the French authorities.
The British registered vehicle, which had a British driver, was allowed to continue on its journey to an address on Manor Royal, Crawley. However both the driver and the haulier may now be liable to a fine of up to £2,000 per stowaway if they are unable to prove they took steps to secure the vehicle.
Carole Upshall, UK Border Agency director for South and Europe, said:
'This incident shows why we base UK Border Agency staff in France - to stop would-be illegal immigrants before they can reach the UK.
'Our strong presence in French ports helps protect the whole of the UK from people attempting to enter the country illegally.'
UK Border Agency officers use hi-tech search equipment to combat immigration crime and detect banned and restricted goods that smugglers attempt to bring into the UK.
Officers use an array of search techniques including detection dogs, carbon dioxide detectors, heartbeat monitors and scanners as well as visual searches to find well-hidden stowaways, illegal drugs, firearms and cigarettes.